Improvement in springs for wheeled vehicles



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

0. W. SALAD E. Vehicle Spring.

Patented ApriI 4, 1871;

2 Sheets-$heet 2.

0. W. SALADEB. v I Vefiiole Spring. No. 113,451. Patented April 4, 18'71.

CYRUS W. SALADEE, OF ST. GATHARINES, CANADA.

IMPROVEMENT IN SPRINGS FOR W HE ELED VEHICLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 113,451, dated April 4, 1871.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, OYRUs W. SALADEE, of St. Catharines, in the Dominion of Canada, have invented a new and Improved Mode of Constructing Springs for Wheeled Vehicles and other Purposes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The nature of my invention consists, first, in that of forming the spring of one piece, whether of wood, steel, or brass, and so applied as to get the required elasticity by the twist or torsion of the material from which it is made; second, in that of using two or more of these springs in such manner as to cause them to act or vibrate at the lever ends on parallel lines with each other, and so as to maintain the seat, body, or other plane resting upon them in a perfectly horizontal and parallel position with the ground while in vibrating motion; and, third, in that of operating each spring upon five (5) bearings, for the important purpose hereinafter shown and described.

I will here state that I do not limit my claims to the mere application of my improved spring to wheeled vehicles, as it is equally applicableto bed and chair bottoms; and I contemplate producing an entire new style of chair and. bedstead upon the principle of this spring by making the lever ends of the springs to serve as elastic legs, in such manner as to produce a pleasant vibrating motion, as well as to impart a novel and fanciful appearance to either article.

I also propose substituting these springs for the legs or standards now used under the seats in railway-coaches, as well as to place them under the coaches themselves.

In the drawing, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of abuggy, showing the application of my springs and their adaptability to that class of vehicles whose bodies are suspended without coupling or perch between the front and hind axles, or what is more commonly termed a platform-spring buggy, hung up without perch. Figs. 2 and 3 are top views of the front and back platform over the axles, and showing the arrangement of my spring to this class of work. Figs. 4 and 5 aretop views of the frame resting over the tops of the springs, as seen in Fig. 1.- Fig. 6 is a top view of the ordinary buggy-gearin g, with perch and iron stays E, with a single spring, A, se cured to the hind axle, and in front to spring bar R, over the front axle, to take the place of the ordinary elliptic springs. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the back part of the buggy shown in Fig. 6, showing the manner of at taching and supporting my springs in this modification of them. Fig. 8 represents the spring A, having the main stem made perfectly straight between the levers A-1 and the center 0, and which is the form best adapted for general application and use.

The different modifications of :my spring shown in the drawing are made of one-half inch round steel, whose length between the levers A-l is about equal to the width of the body L, and which may be bent into the forms shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 6, or left straight between the levers A-1, as seen by Fig. 8.

The object of the curve in the center 0 is to get a lever purchase and bearing to counteract the pressureon the outer ends of the levers A-1, and so as to firmly and rigidly hold the center 0 in position, while the outer ends, at S, are allowed to work freely in the bearings D.

The extreme outer end of the spring is bent into the form of a crank or lever, A-l, the required length, and on the end of this is formed the pin F, 9p which is cut a screw-thread to receive the nut shown in the drawing, Figs. 2 and 3. These levers A-l are set at an angle of about forty-five degrees, as seenin Figs. 1 and 7.

When my spring is to be used as a platformspring, as seen in Fig. 1, I may use four (4) springs, or one spring and one pair of parallel arms, B, as seen in Figs. 1 and 3. For this purpose I first provide the wood frame I, (seen in Figs. 2 and 3,) which is supported over the axles by theiron braces P, Fig. 1, and on the vtop of these frames I secure the springs, or the springs and parallel arms combined, as shown in Fig. 3. The centers 0 of the springs are firmly se cured to the center of the frame, as shown, and the outer ends, at S, are made to vibrate freely in the iron bearings D,

To the top ends of the cranks or levers A-l,

I secure the top wood frames, Figs. 4: and 5, by allowing the pin F (which is turned at right angles with the crank) to pass into like bearings, S, (seen in Fig. 1,) and there secured by the tap-nut on the end of the pin F, as seen in Figs. 2 and 3. These last-named bearings are secured to the under side of the top frames I, as may be seen in Fig. 1, and on the top of this upper frame I, in front, I secure the ordinary circle or fifth-wheel, on which latter are I placed the cross-bars J and J, and across which the front end of the body L is made to 1 rest by means of the body-loops O.

The hind end of the body L is secured to the top of the upper frame I, either by the bodyloops 0 or by allowing the bottom of the body to rest directly on it, and secured in position by boltspassing down through the sills'ofthe body and the frame-pieces I.

The leading features of novelty in my invention, as applied to this class of vehicles,

tom, being the same distance apart, on the principle of the parallel rule, and the hei'ght of the body'an'd its load vibrating them at the upper ends of the levers in acircula-r parallel direction, and so that at all points the-top and bottom frames I are kept in a perfectly-parallel position with each other.

Secorid, that the elasticity of Ithe spr'ing is had by firmly securing the center (1 'of the spring A in position, and causing the outer ends, at S, to vibrate by a twist or torsion'action upon the main stem A in the 'samedirection. A torsion-'springis commonly secured at both ends {and the center "left free, while one end "sprung or twisted to the fright and the other to the left, so that the ends do see act in the same direction. Torsion-springs are also used by bending the main stem into'a V T shape and forming cranks or levers on "the outer ends, with'the points of the levers turned in, and [thus secure thetwist or torsion of thef spring in the same direction; but the een:

'structionof a torsion spring, A,n1 ade straight? 'or slightly'curved, with the "cranks or levers;

'A1'set at right angles with the inainjste'ini A, and parallel with each other, and vibrate-5; ing inthe same "direction from the center (3,; which is firmly held in position, 'I claimto "be an en tirely new and valuable I feature, in 'tor- 'sion-sprlngs, and ofmy invention; and,

Third, 'that by reason of the parallel eeuen;

. iof the'lever ends of the'sprin gs with each other a new-and desirable vibrating action is imparted to the bodyof'the vehicle and'a p'lea's 'antinotion is given to the passenger. while;

at the same time the longitudinal concussion sustained by the vehicles forward passage: over stones and other obstacles in the road is most eflectu'allyand entirely relieved by this; peculiar circular parallel action of thesp'rings,

For certain other purposes than shown in the drawing I contemplate making a parallelother, with the point ofthe V firmly held in I position, and in every other respect connected and operating as in the other figures shown and described.

In vehicles having 'gearings with couplings or perch and stays, I purpose using but two springs, onefront and one back. The main stem A may be either straight, as seen in Fig. 8, or curved, as seen in Fig. 6, with the center of the spring secured in any convenient and substantial manner, and the outer ends, at S, to rest upon the standard D-l, Fig. 7, which'may be formed bya continuation of the rearend of the stay-irons Eand E, Figs. '6 and 7; or separate and special standards may be provided and clipped to the axle behind and to "the spring-bar R in front. In the top of these standards D is formed the bearing for theouter end, S, of the spring A, so as to allow the latter to work or vibrate freely therein, the same as described in its application to Fig. 1.

The body is suspended upon the outere'nds of the levers A- l by-'an'eye formed in the ends of the body-loops Ofas seen in Fig. Land which are made tejeeewe the pin F the's'ame as in theot'her modification, and the same action is had in this application of the "sprin-g'as in thatof *Fig. 1. I

For springs to seats "on farm "and lumber wagons I'use a straight pie'ceof hard wood, about three feet long-*byone andaquareer inch square,whi'ch I ffirrnly secure in the cente'r up n a suitable rmine, and provide -1sh'e enre'r ends with the levers A-l, inade of iron, with a wide square ferrule tightlydriven emetic in the center of each end of the wood drive, or otherwise secure, an iron pin, which is providedwith a bearing,.D, the saine as shown and described infthe other "applioations,-and the outer ends "of the levers "secured 'aild'o'per- I ated as'alre'a'dy'shown and described. I'also pur ose using this 'medifieeeien of 'my sp'ring en the inside of the *lower neee foot {rails of bedsteads,on which to rest the-slattedhed- 'of'chair-fraiiiesftO reeeivethe npnelstereebot.

tom ,and thus produce a durable and pleasant spring-bottom "chair.

Another iriodifica'tion or an invest-ice is re forin thespriiig A, as shownby Figs. 110 and '11, with the centers 0 and 'G firinly'he'ld to Forfthe heavierblass of my'springs this meta od'of securing their centers to the frame on which theyare operated will *be found prefer able *toeither'of theother central fa'stenings shown and described, as 'in this manner a greater purchase is 'had againsetnepressure imposed upon the outer'cnds, F, of thelevers A-l. And tostill further siniplify thernanufacture of these springs, they may be separated at the center point, indicated by the dotted line 0-1, and the ends at that point held down by a clip wide enough to cover both ends of each spring, or by two clips placed close together.

Now, what I claim as new of my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. Forming, securing, and operating torsionsprings by firmly and rigidly holding their center portion 0 to the frame or base on which they are placed, and allowing their outer ends, at S, to vibrate freely in the bearings D, in combination with the cranks or. levers A-l, the outer ends of said levers being hinged or jointed to the frame or body L, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The arrangement and combination of the levers A-l with the springs A and frame or body L, in such manner that they may vibrate 

